I was watching a video on my camera and I carefully took it out to put in another. I may have bumped the wrong button but the next tape did not show any images. I got out more of my takes with known images on them but I still cannot view them on my camera. What did I do wrong?

This is usually caused by an oxidized or defective Audio/Video drum. Try running a cleaning tape through the camera. If this does not solve the problem the camera will need to be repaired qualified service technician.

My name is Rick and I'm a professional repair technician with over 20 years in the business and have repaired many of these. I'm semi retired and work from home with little overhead so I can keep repair costs low. If you decide to have the camera repaired, please click HERE for a directory listing that suits your needs.

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Mine did the same thing. I cleaned the head with a dry tape cleaner
then instead of just showing a blue screen it started showing a screen
with the video but with gray lines on it. Cleaned it a few more times
but it still didn't work. Finally I came up with a solution they say
not to do this but if your careful it will be fine. Get a bottle of
nail polish remover acetone free and some q-tips. Dampen one of the
q-tips make sure its only damp and not wet be sure not to get finger
oil on your q-tips. With the camera tape port ejected and open lightly
swab the head with the q-tip with nail polish remover do this as long
as you like being sure to clean the whole head once complete let it
dry for a few minutes when it drys it will be dull looking with a thin
white film on it. Take a fresh q-tip ensuring you don't touch the
cotton your going to use this to wipe the film off the head once
complete the head will look shiny. try your tape and if it works it was
a dirty head if it plays the screws up most likely your tape is dirty
or messed up.
Richard L

Steps for removing the tape from a totally dead ZR85:
1. Turn camera upside down.
2. Move "Open/Eject" button to full right position (toward lens).
3. Manually push tape door open.
4. On the metal surface that sits between you and the tape, there is a very small screw. There is probably a yellow sticker next to the screw that says "Do not press on this part". With a small jewelry phillips screwdriver, remove that screw.
5. Push the metal plate (with tape) in the direction ofr the door and lift slightly. The metal assembly holding the tape comes loose, exposing the top of the tape.
6. Pull the tape upwards (out of the camera). At this point, the tape will still be engaged in the play heads. With the cartridge out far enough to see the heads, reach in with your jewelry screw driver and carefully lift the tape over the heads, and free from the camera.
7. Use the eraser on the end of a pencil to wind your tape back into the cartridge.
8. When re-assembling the mechanism in the camera, there are two curved slots on both sides of the piece you took loose. You'll need to thread these onto two posts inside before you place the top back in position and put the screw back in.

1. Take out the tape - AND TURN THE CAMERA ON.
2. press the menu button (near the viewfinder)3. Use he wheel on top next to the viewfinderto scroll through the choices4. Choose "display setup" by pushing the wheel in5. Choose "C. Rest" by pushing the wheel in6. Turn camera off7. Next time you turn camera on you should be able to view tapes and record.IT DID NOT WORK THE FISRT TIME SO I PUT MY FINGER IN TO TRY TO GENTLY PUSH BUTTON WHEN I TOOK THE TAPE OFF AND THEN TRIED SOLUTION ABOVE AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, IT WORKED. BUT PLEASE DONT INSERT YOUR FINGERS IN AS I DID TRY THE SOLUTION 2 OR THREE TIME IT SHOULD BE OK, HOPE THIS WORKS FOR YOU,THANKS
CREDIT TO LABBER

1. Take out the tape - AND TURN THE CAMERA POWER ON2. press the menu button (near the viewfinder)3. Use he wheel on top next to the viewfinderto scroll through the choices4. Choose "display setup" by pushing the wheel in5. Choose "C. Rest" by pushing the wheel in6. Turn camera off7. Next time you turn camera on y ou should be able to view tapes and record.IT DID NOT WORK THE FISRT TIME SO I PUT MY FINGER IN TO TRY TO GENTLY PUSH BUTTON WHEN I TOOK THE TAPE OFF AND THEN TRIED SOLUTION ABOVE AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, IT WORKED. BUT PLEASE DONT INSERT YOUR FINGERS IN AS I DID TRY THE SOLUTION 2 OR THREE TIME IT SHOULD BE OK, HOPE THIS WORKS FOR YOU,THANKS AND CREDIT TO LABBER

I had the same thing happen to my Sony DCR-TR7000 NTSC. I plugged in the AC power supply and it worked fine. So I fully recharged the battery, removed the Hi8MP cassette that was in it, put in a new one. The problem went away and when I reloaded the old cassette, the problem was gone. Don't know why, but this process seemed to fix it.

THE FOLLOWING SOLUTION FROM LABBER (CREDIT TO HIM)
I did have a similar problem as above, and has not been able to use the camera for a long time as power turns itself off in less than 2 mins. I tried the solution #3 (by labber) above. which i have copied and pasted below .1. Take out the tape - mine stayed on longer (without blinking) when the tape was not in. 2. press the menu button (near the viewfinder)3. Use he wheel on top next to the viewfinderto scroll through the choices4. Choose "display setup" by pushing the wheel in5. Choose "C. Rest" by pushing the wheel in6. Turn camera off7. Next time you turn camera on you should be able to view tapes and record.IT DID NOT WORK THE FISRT TIME SO I PUT MY FINGER IN TO TRY TO GENTLY PUSH BUTTON WHEN I TOOK THE TAPE OFF AND THEN TRIED SOLUTION ABOVE AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, IT WORKED. BUT PLEASE DONT INSERT YOUR FINGERS IN AS I DID TRY THE SOLUTION 2 OR THREE TIME IT SHOULD BE OK, HOPE THIS WORKS FOR YOU,THANKS LABBER

try to clean the video head...just forward a blank new tape 5 times...until the head is being cleaning...dont use a video head cleaner...just think using a sand paper to the head....it damaging the head